Interview: Jane Robertson of Bird Boutique

Photo: Deb Smith

If there is a sartorial oasis in the middle of Hamilton, as incongruous as that may sound, it is Casabella Lane, off Barton Street in the city centre. For a region better known for cowbells, woollen singlets and gumboots, Jane Robertson's three fab stores; Bird Boutique, Maude and The Clothes Horse provide welcome relief and do much in their own way to beautify the city. Readers of Black issue 12 may have read of Jane's importance to the Zambesi label before love took her to the Waikato.

Black: Jane, why Hamilton?

Jane Robertson: After spending 25 years living in Auckland, I moved to Hamilton late 2005 for marriage reasons and I soon realised the need for a beautiful women's fashion store.

B: Tell us about your long term relationship with Liz and Neville Findlay and the Zambesi label.

JR. I started working for Liz and Neville Findlay in the late 70's and part way through the 80's. It was such an incredible time, the economy was very buoyant. Liz and Neville had started wholesaling the Zambesi brand to exclusive stores around NZ. Liz was very inspired by Japanese fashion, its designers, their construction and use of fabric and she travelled regularly to Japan. Zambesi is such an iconic New Zealand brand, it's so genius....sophisticated in a very edgy timeless way. You really get so much pleasure wearing their pieces. It's not about dotting I's and crossing T's. Talking about my time working for the Findlays and Zambesi conjures up quite a few emotions...it was a real sense of belonging, they were like family. I feel like their ambassador. It's such a priviledge to have 'Zambesi' at 'Bird'.

B: What did you learn from Liz and bring to Bird Boutique and Casabella Lane

JR: To appreciate beautifully constructed garments and fabric, do what feels right and don't get caught up in what others may say or think. Be passionate and enjoy the journey. Liz  has true 'Mana' she's one of the most grounded people I know, I greatly admire her....hard working, unflappable with amazing values. I think it's really important to value what's important - your health, family, friends and to love your craft whatever it may be.

B: Explain Casabella Lane

A. The best destination shopping in Hamilton's CBD. Reminiscent of the type of little lane's you'd find around the Marais in Paris...it's very quaint.

B: Which labels do you stock and why do you stock them?

JR: Zambesi, Beth Ellery, Camille Howie, Katie Battersby, Ingrid Starnes, Pearl, A La Robe, Standard Issue, Tologa Bay.... NZ designer's consistantly delivering beautifully constructed interesting garments.
International brands stocked are Mina Perhonen, Kristensendu Nord, David Szetso, Jac & Jack, Acne, Graham and Spencer, Velvet T's and still evolving.

B: Does Bird have an online store?

JR: We don't offer online shopping (at this stage). The site is to entice and delight and to showcase our other stores Maude and The Clothes Horse.

B: Tell us about Maude?

JR: Maude is a beautiful new store in Casabella Lane stocking shoes and accessories designed and created by some of the best makers from around the world.

B: The Clothes Horse?

JR: Designer recycle clothing, it sits in the loft above Maude.

B: Who is involved in the shots on the website, photographer and model etc.

JR: It has been such priviledge to have the amazingly talented Deborah and Mark Smith work on the images for the site. Apart from directing the shoot, Deb organised the lovely fresh look model Molly, Matt Stevens (Deb's talented brother in law) is the web designer and Alan Deare is the graphic designer extraordinaire from Area Design Hamilton.

B: What's trucking out of 'Bird at the moment.

JR: Everything...there's alway's bits and pieces coming and going.

B: What do you hope Bird to be

JR: A very talked about store.

B: Bird in three words

JR: Very beautiful clothing.

Bird Boutique, Maude and The Clothes Horse, Casabella Lane, Hamilton. Ph: +64 7 838 3180

The Men's Department poses a modelling question

Everyone knows that models are posers, right? That is, at the behest of a photographer or stylist they are asked to affect a certain stance, or pose. Interestingly, the difference between good posing and bad posing is more substantial than most realise and many good fashion editorials have been rendered 'bad' by overwrought, awkward or plain incomprehensible poses. The lavishly-titled Men's Department School of Modelling know this and have started a tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek competition to see if you can come up with alternate poses to those so expertly practiced by Michael Whittaker (above). The best will be published on the Men's Department FB page and the first choice wins a Top Man Skinny Black suit - as worn by Michael, above. So come on poseurs; shoot, name and email your entry to: themensdepartment@thedepartmentstore.co.nz. 

Playing In The Park with Karen Walker

We popped along to the well-populated opening of Playpark by Karen Walker last Friday and aside from it being a swell party, we were impressed with the set-up of the new store. Some hand-picked new brands; Cacharel, Hunter footwear, Julie Rofman and Kate Hillier jewellery (and soon, Eddie Borgo?), Fred Perry Laurel Wreath, Rittenhouse et al are added to the entire family of KW brands inclcuding Beau Coops for Karen Walker. Karen's ever-present horsey is there nestled amongst the jungle gyms (yes, climbing apparatus!) in a spacious store that gives new weight to a trip to Nuffield Street, Newmarket. First class Karen Walker! Here's a few images from the night by photographer Rebekah Farrell - including the smorgasbord of delicious sweets that had punters hovering all night...

The Department Store rolls up its sleeves for Christchurch

Image: Michigirl.com

This Sunday, in a collectively philanthropic effort, the founders of The Department Store are putting everything they have into raising funds for the people of Christchurch who have been so adversely affected by the Feb 22 earthquake. Karen Walker, Dan Gosling (BlackBox and Stolen Girlfriends Club), Stephen and Lucy Marr and Simon James will not only be donating every cent that crosses the counter to the Red Cross appeal but will also be spending the day there themselves to interact with supportive customers. Karen will be on hand to help style customers in store (has there been a better opportunity to have Karen as a personal stylist for a moment?), Stephen and Lucy (two of this country's best) will be cutting hair on the salon floor, Dan Gosling will be there with his team to help you pull together the slickest outfit you can and Simon James and staff will also be on hand, giving advice on design objects, books and interiors.

Add celebrities flipping sausages on the grill, top line DJs and the fabulous environment of The Department Store itself and you have a one-off, inclusive shopping experience that may never happen again. Be advised though, that Stephen Marr customers especially are urged to book early so call them on 09 488 0585 to do so...

High St. Guild's Lucky Christmas Shop

Love this idea from the enticingly named High St. Guild. Opening on Dec 9, High St Lucky Christmas Shop is a pop up store held within a venerable High Street location, downstairs at 33 High St. The sweaty, low-roofed, strangely-angled space formerly known as The Box, arguably Auckland's greatest nightclub, is set to become an enchanted forest of mystery gifts. The gifts are already wrapped but will include donated goods from High St. retailers Workshop, Zambesi, Kate Sylvester, Hotel De Brett, Cassette #9, Pauanesia, Rakinos and many more. Best of all though, all proceeds go to the City Mission, who offer so many with so little, a better Christmas. As the invite says, "the surprise is in the giving..."

Workshop & Helen Cherry store opening show pics

As mentioned in the post below Workshop & Helen Cherry opened their new store at 74 Macelvie Street, Ponsonby last Friday night. It was a swell party and featured a show of new seasons Workshop Denim and Helen Cherry. We're big fans of both ranges. The Helen Cherry range is one of her best yet and Chris Cherry is pushing the denim strongly...love the denim shirts..all pictures by Olivia Hemus.

Beam Me Into Ponsonby

Tonight, we were fortunate to be able to help Workshop Denim & Helen Cherry open their new store in Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby, and celebrate a new era for the iconic New Zealand fashion labels in Auckland's new fashion centrality, Ponsonby Road. The venue is not short on size or stature and resonates all that is good about both brands and their collaborative history. The work of artist Martin Popplewell is ubiquitous, with a substantial painting on the building's exterior, features and finishing around the room, a hand-painted Workshop logo on the building's facade, and a to-die-for rug near the changing rooms - all extending a love affair with collaborative art projects that has spanned three decades for founders Chris & Helen Cherry. Embellishing the family name tonight was head music man Dylan Cherry and his friend Jake and a bunch of hard-working staff and crew who have put in long hours of effort to ensure that this is the ultimate local store for the brand. Perfect then, that tonight should also signal the arrival of another new partnership, with one of the world's great car companies, BMW. The picture above was taken yesterday, of Helen alighting her new BMW in a pair of Alexander Wang's - which of course are only available at Workshop & Helen Cherry...more pics of the night to come.

From Paris With Love

AGATHA Paris, Vulcan Lane, Auckland

I popped into the new AGATHA Paris boutique in Vulcan Lane today - across the way from the iconic Zambesi store - and was immediately struck by the smart, clean, Parisian presentation - the boutique was created in Paris and then shipped to Aotearoa, and it shows. The walls are painted an opulent blue, the display cases are all superbly lit and the jewellery and accessories on display are just what New Zealand needs, French flair that is accessible and affordable with a broad range of styles and concepts on offer. We particularly like the way necklaces and pendants are hung on the wall in such an easy-to-see way. AGATHA Paris's six annual collections all reflect the trends from the world's big fashion houses, and with 260 boutiques around the world and over 1,000 AGATHA Paris designs sold every hour, they are clearly onto a good thing.

We like what Asia-Pacific director Renaud Litre has to say about the new Auckland store: "It is wonderful to be bringing a slice of Parisian style - along with a large helping of AGATHA Paris's chic and sassy spirit - to Auckland with this new, Australasian-first boutique. I know New Zealand women will find AGATHA Paris as much of a delightful discovery as their peers around the world have, and I look forward to seeing how New Zealand's style and fashion leaders influence AGATHA Paris in years to come." That's not just refreshing, it's encompassing. Congratulations Mitchell, and welcome AGATHA Paris...

AGATHA Paris

35b Vulcan Lane,

Auckland Central

Ph: 302 1100

Here's the local Facebook page

Popping Up!

Hopetown's Aria Campbell and Ruth Ellison are two of the nicest people we have met in fashion in recent times, and their bubbly demeanour at the recent Process media day may have something to do with the fact they know they are onto a good thing. We certainly think they are. The current range, sparked simply by a shared vision of an old man fishing in a wooden boat, indicates they have a right to be hopeful. All the better then, that you can pop along to their pop-up store over the next three days - provided you live in Auckland of course -  and take home Hopetown's Spring/Summer 09 collection at wholesale price. 

Hopetown Pop-Up Shop

Suite 2, 58 Surrey Crescent

Grey Lynn, Auckland

Thurs Nov 12 - Sat Nov 14

10am-5pm 

Shore Boys (and girls)

Black Box in Taka; bang the drum...

Earlier in the year we were driving an international visitor friend of ours around Auckland to show him the sights. We went up Mt Victoria then headed north through Takapuna as he was keen to do some shopping. "Why are we here?" he said, somewhat confused "What is this place? I can't see anywhere to shop!" Enter The Department Store? A multi-dimensional, three story complex, in the heart of Takapuna with Karen Walker, Blackbox, Stephen Marr, Flotsam & Jetsam and Michael Lett Gallery which in one fell swoop is addressing the lack of quality retail and artistic environment in Auckland's third largest city. Karen Walker is on a roll, having just opened her delightful Ponsonby Road store and Blackbox is already one of Auckland's most important fashion retailers. Stephen Marr is delivering a three-pronged offer; the hair salon, Lucy & The Powder Room and the Marr Lab, Flotsam & Jetsam are adding their unique cornucopia of goodies and Michael Lett, one of Auckland's most respected gallerys, a second North Shore option. All in all a brilliant retail concept. Recession? What recession...

Open now: The Department Store, Northcroft Street, Takapuna

Flash Frames

If you have a penchant for quality sunglasses, then like an art lover, you may well find yourself cruising into Smith & Caughey's to check out the new Sunglass Gallery which opened yesterday. For the first time, many of the great sunglass brands; Gucci, Dior, Roberto Cavalli, Tom Ford, Hugo Boss, Ben Sherman, Lacoste et al are all on display in the same spacious location. So when the sun finally does come out, Smith & Caugheys could well become your one-stop shop for summer eyewear.

Vision On

Children Of Vision launched their online store this week and judging by the post (above) on the front page of influential UK fashion blog Kingdom Of Style, it had an immediate affect...

Top Shop Just Around Corner

Popular British fashion store/site/brand/juggernaut Topshop announced yesterday that they have expanded their international shipping destinations to include Aotearoa. New Zealanders have long spoken the words "Topshop" and "London Experience" in the same sentence and the Kate Moss collaboration is surely one of the most successful of recent times.

Kate Walmsley, Head of Topshop's E-Commerce division comments: “We’re thrilled to be able to offer an increased number of international customers the chance to buy at Topshop. We’ve listened to our customers, many of whom make regular pilgrimages to our Oxford Circus flagship, and look forward to expanding into other territories in the future."